Grade 4 student Simon Knockwood is from Abegweit First Nation in Scotchfort, P.E.I., and says his dream is to become a fisheries officer when he grows up.

He comes from a long line of people involved in the fishery, and he loves caring for the environment. 

So the work his class is doing now through a program called Fish Friends is right up his alley — it combines his love of fish with his cultural identity. 

“We are raising the salmon and then we are going to release them where they were found,” said Simon.

“Indigenous people, our family loves to help the environment. Back in the day, if we killed something, we would give tobacco back to the Earth.”

He said it’s a really cool experience to have his classmates learn his cultural values alongside him. 

Fish Friends is a Mi’kmaw-led program being done in roughly 20 schools across the Island. Like Simon’s class, each school is responsible for caring for 100 salmon eggs that are starting to develop.  

Simon’s cousin, Brezlyn Knockwood, is the technician at the Abegweit Biodiversity Enhancement Hatchery. He assists with the program by teaching students about the importance of protecting the ecosystem using Indigenous practices. 

“What that will teach the students is the importance of the salmon, the life cycle of the salmon. But then it also gives them a sense of ownership,” Brezlyn said.

“When they gather that sense of ownership, they have a bigger sense of pride when it comes to the ecosystem around it and the rivers that they’re going into.” 

One cultural value this program puts into practice is conserving and protecting the land.

While these students may not directly feel the effect of their actions, Brezlyn said, they are helping to preserve the salmon population for generations to come. 

“In our culture we treat everything with respect and everything underneath the sun was created by the creator,” he said.

“It’s inspiring to see community members at such a young age that are being involved in a program like this. It’s encouraging for me because I never had the opportunity.”

‘We have to give back when we take’

Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould said he feels a sense of pride that the children from his community and the surrounding areas are learning traditional Mi’kmaw ways. 

He explained that the program has been around for a number of years, but outside support for it has grown. 

Cavendish Farms and North Lake Fisheries recently signed a multi-year partnership that will support Fish Friends with $25,000 from each company annually for the next four years. 

This funding will help expand the program to more schools and provide all the equipment and supplies needed. 

Gould said he hopes the program means fish and children will thrive while ensuring Mik’maw traditions and values live on for generations. 

“To see the young people be involved with the importance of restocking and revitalizing a natural species is our due diligence as the parents and as the teachers and the educators,” he said.

“We have to give back when we take.”